Double-deck coach



Nov. 23 1926.

C. O. BALLA DOUBLE DECK' COACH Filed Dec. 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23 1926.

1,607,718 C. O. BALL DOUBLE DECK COACH Filed Dec. 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.'

UNITED STATES 1,607,71e PATENT 'oifl'ncl.

CHARLES O. BALL, VF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO YELLOW vCOACH 'MANU- FACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR-PORATIOIT.

DOUBLE-DECK COACH.

Application lediDecember 1, 1924. .Serial No.753,023.

This invention relates,` to passenger buses, and more particularly `to the construction and arrangement of double deck coaches of the monitor' type.

The principal object of my invention is to so construct double deck passenger coaches that they'are relatively low to permit them to pass under low bridges, viaducts and the like while at the same time the passengers may move freely in an upright positionto the seats on the lower and upper decks.

Another object of my invention is to so construct and arrange the stairs for a double deck coach of the monitor type that the pas sengers may pass from the lower deck directly to either of the side aisles of the upper deck, without the necessity of stepping over the monitor in obtaining ingress to or egress from one of the aisles on the upper deck. upper deck on the monitor with the seats running longitudinally of the vehicle and arranged back-to-back, aisles being arranged in front of the seats on each side of the upper deck. If there were but one stairway leading from the lower deck to one of the aisles on the upper deck, in order to pass to or from the aisle on the other side of the upper deck it would be necessary to step or climb over the monitor in a stooped position, which would be inconvenient for and irksome to the passengers because of the height and construction of the monitor and the low roof. I avoid this objection by arranging two staircases leading from the rear platform on the lower deck to the individual aisles on the upper deck and pref erably join the two staircases together so that the bottom steps are common to both staircases.

*Referring to the drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a double deck coach showing my invention applied thereto, with parts shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the coach showing the stair cases in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatical top plan view of the coach with the top. removed to show the seating arrangement on the upper deck and the staircases; and Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatical top plan view of the lower deck and the two lower steps common to the two staircases, the view being I arrange the seats on the' in the nature of a horizontal cross-section taken on the lined- 4 of Fig. y2.

served that the ,coach disclosed in thedrawings is of the monitor type having a lower deck 5, an upper deck 6 and a roof 7 extending over the upper deck, the upper deck and roof being supported'in the usual manner. At the rear of the lower floor is an entrance platform 8 having an entrance step 9, with doors 1() above the step.

The preferred seating arrangement of the lower deck is illustrated in Fig. 4 and it will be noted that there are a number of cross seats 11 providing a central aisle, a drivers seat 12 in front and three longitudinally extending seats 13 in the rear. The floor of the upper deck is of the monitor type and comprises the gently sloping side portions forming the side aisles 15 and the centrall monitor 16 (Fig. 1). It is, understood that the monitor provides head room for the passengers when passing along the central aisle of the lower deck while the seats 11 are ar` ranged under the sloping sides which are not of sufiicient height from the lower Hoor to permit a passenger toy stand upright. The preferred seating arrangement of the upper deck is illustrated in Fig. 3, with the seats 19 arranged back-to-back on the monitor and the front seat 20 extending crosswise of the vehicle. The sloping sides of the floor of the upper deck are so low that the passengers cannot stand upright under them, but this arrangement permits the passengers to walk in upright position along aisles 15 on the upper deck and affords a low roof 7 so that the coach may plss under low bridges, viaducts and the li ze.

Extending from the platform 8 to the rear ends of the aisles 15 of the ripper deck is a double staircase 21, the two bottom steps 218L of which are common to the two staircases. The steps on each side of the steps- 21a are arranged somewhat semi-spirally as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The staircases are supported by the back and sides of the vehicle and the proper supporting members in any approved manner.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that passengers may pass directly from the platform 8 to either of the aisles 15 of the upper deck by the appropriate staircase, thus eliminating the necessity and trouble of passing over the monitor in order to enter or leave one of the upper aisles, While at the same time the passengers may move about the aisles in comfort and the coach may be relatively low.

I claim:

In a double deck passenger' coach of the monitor type, an upper deck with the monitor providing` aisles on each side of such deck and carryingseats arranged longitudinally of the coach body, a lower deck having' two rows of seats arranged crosswise with an aisle therebetween extending longitudinally of the coach body, said lower deck having a driving compartment at its front portion forwardly of the seats carried there by, a rear entrance-exit platform in direct communication with said lower deck aisle, a step communicating said platform with a combined rear entrance and exit, two oppositely arranged semi-spiral stairways at the rear of said platforms leading to the rear ends of said respective aisles on the said upper deck and connected to said platform by lower steps in common, and a door for said entrance and exit.

CHARLES O. BALL. 

